Helen Gordon: The Woman Behind the Greensheet

In 1969, Helen Gordon moved to Houston with her new husband, Robert DeYoung. A no-nonsense, pragmatic mother of three with the heart of a musician and the soul of a painter, Helen was determined to be her own boss by owning and operating her own company.

It didn't take her long to find success. Helen started the Greensheet, a free advertising tabloid with classified ads, a list of business services, in 1970. Within eight years, she expanded it to five Texas cities without the help of bank lo...